We report the functional and socioeconomic long-term
outcome of patients with pelvic ring injuries. We identified 109 patients treated at a Level I trauma centre
between 1973 and 1990 with multiple blunt orthopaedic injuries including
an injury to the pelvic ring, with an Injury Severity Score (ISS)
of ≥ 16. These patients were invited for clinical review at a minimum
of ten years after the initial injury, at which point functional
results, general health scores and socioeconomic factors were assessed. In all 33 isolated anterior (group A), 33 isolated posterior
(group P) and 43 combined anterior/posterior pelvic ring injuries
(group A/P) were included. The mean age of the patients at injury
was 28.8 years (5 to 55) and the mean ISS was 22.7 (16 to 44). At review the mean Short-Form 12 physical component score for
the A/P group was 38.71 (22.12 to 56.56) and the mean Hannover Score
for Polytrauma Outcome subjective score was 67.27 (12.48 to 147.42),
being significantly worse compared with the other two groups (p =
0.004 and p = 0.024, respectively). A total of 42 patients (39%)
had a limp and 12 (11%) required crutches. Car or public transport
usage was restricted in 16 patients (15%). Overall patients in groups
P and A/P had a worse outcome. The long-term outcome of patients
with posterior or combined anterior/posterior pelvic ring injuries
is poorer than of those with an isolated anterior injury. Cite this article:
